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[noburden]

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[noburden]

She ignores how her stomach simultaneously drops as her heart flutters. Her fingertips trace over his scarred cheek.

He's trying.

"I would like that. What should I wear to dinner and this surprise of yours?"

[rosarianoath]

“We can decide that in the morning,” he says. “Right now I’m just glad that you’d go at all.”

[noburden]

She lifts a brow at him, amused.

"It's time with you. I cherish that above all else."

[rosarianoath]

“I know.” She reminds him all the time, even if he hasn’t always taken it to heart. He sags deeper into the mattress, looking up at her with so much affection he feels fit to burst. “I want to spend more time with you.”

[noburden]

He's adorable, sometimes. Those blue eyes could get her to agree to anything when they look at her like that.

"Do I get any hints about this surprise?"

[rosarianoath]

"I don't think so," he says, reaching to brush her hair around her face. "Anticipation is the greater part of pleasure, isn't it?"

[noburden]

She huffs, but the smile doesn't leave her face.

"Just as long as it's not another house. I like this one."

[rosarianoath]

“No?” he says, a dry tease. “I found a promising villa with thirty rooms and a charming courtyard, and stables for eighteen mounts…”

[noburden]

Silly.

"Then I must tell you that you don't know me at all. That's too much space. Sometimes even this house feels too large when you and Torgal are out."

[rosarianoath]

Where else, he wonders, will they house their many children? Instead, he says: “It’s a shack, then. A narrow bed for the two of us, with only one bowl and one spoon.”

[noburden]

Even sillier.

"Perfect. I will sleep on your chest, and we will take turns feeding one another."

[rosarianoath]

“Perfect,” he agrees. “I’ll send for the paperwork in the morning.”

[noburden]

"Don't tease me," she laughs, snuggling in again, nuzzling into his cheek. She would truly love it. This house is their home, and she cherishes it, but she would be happy anywhere with him.

[rosarianoath]

He just hums under his breath, wrapping his arms around her and bowling her over for real this time, leaning his weight into her.

“I think this is the perfect house for the three of us.”

[noburden]

She goes with a soft squeak, low and charmed. She runs her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. There's nothing but fondness in her gaze when she looks at him.

"It is. It's our home. I would like to see the spare bedroom occupied, some day, but for now... I'm glad you don't hole yourself away in the basement as much as you did before."

[rosarianoath]

“Mm,” he hums his agreement, meeting her eyes. They’re so close. He nudges her nose with the tip of his. “I needed time, for a while… but I think the worst has passed.”

[noburden]

Has it? She wonders.

"You seem happier," she says carefully, nudging his nose back. "I suppose I needed time, too."

Time to realize that while it hurts to be without him, she can survive.

[rosarianoath]

“I don’t know if I’m happier,” he says. “But I’ve accepted what I’ve done, and the reality of the situation… and how foolish I’ve been.”

He brushes her hair back again, his gaze soft.

[noburden]

"All in that basement?" She teases, just gently. Her touch mirrors his, brushing his hair away from his face, for what little it actually does.

[rosarianoath]

He just smiles at her.

“It’s dull and quiet down there.”

[noburden]

"If it's helped, I'm glad for you, Clive."

She can't help but wonder what that means for them, but asking seems like a quick way to ruin the moment. She wants to stay in his arms, with these sweet touches and their noses bumping together.

[rosarianoath]

He’s glad, too. He doesn’t bother saying it. Just just kisses her, slow and sweet, one hand wandering down her back.

[noburden]

It's a perfect kiss. She closes her eyes and focuses on how right it feels. She's meant to be in his arms, and he's meant to kiss her. No one else she's kissed has felt this warm, this easy.

"I love you, Clive," she says when their lips part. "My treasure."

[rosarianoath]

His heart feels light. The earlier events of the evening had made him feel foul and jealous, but pressed against her body, he knows where he is supposed to be. She’s the sweetest, most patient, most enduring woman in the world, and if he could serve her forever, he gladly would. She loves him, despite what he’s done, and what he’s failed in.

“I love you too,” he says, and then he holds her tighter, like he could prove it with the proximity of his body, skin to skin.

[noburden]

"Will you stay the night in my bed?" She asks, hopeful. They haven't made a mess of it yet. She doesn't want to part from him anytime soon.